Water System Report KY

North Nelson Water District

EPA ID: KY0900323 · 13,365 people served · 7 ZIP codes

North Nelson Water District earns a clean bill from EPA monitoring — no violations in five years across a service area of 13,365 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 55
Avg Safety Score
13,365
People Served
7
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$235K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for North Nelson Water District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$77,083
Median Household Income
96,803
Service Area Population
10%
Disadvantaged Population
44th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
50%
Pre-1986 Housing

The North Nelson Water District serves a community with a median household income of $77,083 and an estimated 96,803 residents across its service area. Approximately 50% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

North Nelson Water District's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
57th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
47th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Nelson County, Kentucky rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

39 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
31 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 56% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 25 detections recorded. 7 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 7 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Kentucky

Springfield Water Works
13,205 people
C 0 violations
Big Sandy Water District
13,044 people
C 4 violations
Paris Water Works
14,139 people
D 2 violations
Eubank Water System
12,492 people
D 0 violations
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,086
Flood Insurance $857
PFAS Treatment $600
Water Filtration $43
Total Estimated Cost $2,586

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,586 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

North Nelson Water District (EPA ID: KY0900323) is a community water system in Kentucky that serves approximately 13,365 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 7 ZIP codes across 7 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (55/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by KY or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for North Nelson Water District (KY0900323) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Nelson Water District water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, North Nelson Water District has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does North Nelson Water District serve?

North Nelson Water District serves approximately 13,365 people across 7 ZIP codes in Kentucky.

Where does North Nelson Water District get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Purchased from another utility
Treated water purchased wholesale from another water system.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: North Nelson Water District Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from North Nelson Water District Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
232
Detections
4
Latest sample
10/27/2023
Highest analyte
PFOA: 5.7 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 5.7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFPeA 4 ppt
PFBS 3.7 ppt

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
5,301
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 13,365
Reported to Kentucky

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from North Nelson Water District safe to drink?
North Nelson Water District has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
North Nelson Water District meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does North Nelson Water District serve?
North Nelson Water District serves approximately 13,365 people with drinking water across 7 ZIP codes.
What is North Nelson Water District's water source?
North Nelson Water District draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of North Nelson Water District's service area?
The North Nelson Water District service area has a median household income of $77,083. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does North Nelson Water District get its water?
North Nelson Water District's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

North Nelson Water District (EPA ID: KY0900323) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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